SINGAPORE, Aug 30 — Air quality in some parts of the southern Asean region reached hazardous levels on Sunday morning, according to the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC).
In its daily weather and haze report, ASMC said several air quality monitoring stations in West Kalimantan, central and southern Sumatra, western Peninsular Malaysia, and central and western Sarawak recorded unhealthy to hazardous air quality levels.
It observed scattered to widespread hotspots across Kalimantan and Sumatra, with a few hotspots also recorded in parts of southern Asean.
“Moderate to dense transboundary smoke plumes were observed emanating from hotspot clusters in West Kalimantan, drifting northwards into the western and central parts of Sarawak.
“Meanwhile, moderate to dense smoke was also seen coming from clusters of hotspots in many parts of Kalimantan, as well as central and southern Sumatra,” it said on Sunday.
ASMC warned that the hotspot and smoke haze situation could continue to escalate in areas experiencing prolonged periods of dry weather, with the risk of transboundary haze occurrence.
“The prevailing winds over the southern Asean region are forecast to blow from the southeast to southwest,” it added. — Bernama
